Topic: Integrated graphics card? (Read 1881 times)

firestar12 · « **on:** April 20, 2009, 23:24:00 »

Hi guys, I decided that I want to update my PC with the money I got from my birthday. I am finally going to buy that GeForce 8600 graphics card I have always wanted. However, I hear that some PCs cant get a new graphics card because it is 'integrated'. What all does this mean and is mine integrated?

bsm2003 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2009, 23:42:11 »

You should be able to upgrade no problem. When you get iti just make sure that you disable the onboard video in the bios. Should be a nice card and you should enjoy it immensely. dxdiag doesn't really give info on when you upgrade. The link is to the specs based on the model number of your pc.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01080268&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=in&lang=en&product=3623084

If your going to upgrade why not go to the 9800?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000048%201068320729&Description=9800%20GTX&name=1GB

saltydog · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2009, 23:44:37 »

I agree,an add-on card would be an improvement..
Try go get a 8800GT, if possible..

firestar12 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2009, 00:41:13 »

Ok, I think I might get that. I might get this though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130394
Would that work with my PC?

mvsmith · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:11:52 »

An Nvidia GT-120 with 1GB ram works well.

BFG is one card manufacturer that puts 1GB on the card. They have a number of cards with what was called the 9500 at various prices from $120 US. You can look them over on BestBuyâ€™s site, among others.

firestar12 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:13:07 »

But that other one would work, right?

Captain Darling · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:19:24 »

I recommend Nvidia 9400GT, I have it and it works very well

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?EVG-94GT1

bsm2003 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:44:45 »

Quote from: Firestar on April 21, 2009, 01:13:07

But that other one would work, right?

Yes but you will more than likely be sharing system ram with the card at 256 on board. If $$ is the main setback then it will work. But performance may not be any better than just staying with the onboard. The whole point in upgrading is to go with something better and reduce system resources used. The cards I linked to will have there own dedicated memory and the one you linked has only 256 ram and will be a lot slower and most likely still need som of your system ram to support it. Remember Vista according to the minimum

Operating system: Windows 2000, XP or Vista
Processor: Pentium 4 2.4GHz or AMD equivalent
Memory: 1GB (Windows 2000/XP) or 2GB (Vista)
Graphics card: GeForce 5900 or ATI 9600 Pro / X600 (128MB)
Audio devices: Sound card
Input controller: Mouse with scroll wheel
Optional controllers: Joystick, Joypad or Steering wheel

You are already just barely meeting the specs with what you have.
any increase of graphics and Graphics memory will take some of the burden off the cpu.

Your system doesn't even meet the specs required.
Here are your dxdiag specs for your comp

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2140 @ 1.60GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.6GHz

Memory: 2038MB RAM
Page File: 1435MB used, 2877MB available

Display Memory: 256 MB

Dedicated Memory: 0 MB

Shared Memory: 256 MB

firestar12 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:47:38 »

It will make it better without a doubt. Parts of my ships are missing all the time and the water looks like milk.

Master Captain · « **Reply #9 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:49:30 »

yea you've got an integrated card, and if you have whats called a pci slot you should be good to go and if i remember right your processor is under the requirements, so that could be causing problems too.

firestar12 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:51:16 »

Yes, it is way under. I will see if I have that slot. My Uncle Randy would know. I will have him come over and put it in for me.

bsm2003 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:52:44 »

1.60 x 2 does not make 3.2 on cpu's
it's still 1.6.

It would be probably just fine if the game was able to use both processors on pcs but alas not very may programs are written to take advantage of the new multi core cpu's.

TJK · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2009, 01:53:32 »

And if you have beather PCI Express slot then bay a PIC E card, my self have G Force 9800GT and it's fantastic, and when you put in a new card it will automatic shot down the integrated card on your motherboard
TJK

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #13 on:** April 21, 2009, 10:30:53 »

Firestar,

A lot of good tips here..

But whatever you do, at least make sure first what you can put into that computer, before you buy the card you want.

Nothing worse that opening it up and discovering it won't fit.

Fred.

mvsmith · « **Reply #14 on:** April 21, 2009, 14:26:41 »

Hi Fred,
We should mention that the graphics card is only part of the story. Much of what goes on in SS is computational and takes place outside of QV. Putting a better graphics card in a computer that is marginal, or sub-marginal, in processor speed or in available memory will not help much.
Regards,
Marty

Mad_Fred · « **Reply #15 on:** April 21, 2009, 15:11:50 »

That is very true indeed, Marty!

firestar12 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2009, 16:35:55 »

So I shouldn't get a new graphics card?

CaptainMike1 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2009, 17:06:42 »

Firestar

If I were you I would not do anything at all until SS10 is announced and you can see what the requirements for that are. If you go and buy a new graphics card now you might find that you wasted you money as the rest of the PC is junk!

Only my thought!

Mike

TerryRussell · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2009, 18:37:40 »

I think that with a CPU speed of 1.6 GHz, a new graphics card my not be greatly helpful.

I suspect that the CPU will be the bottleneck, and you will have a super-fast graphics card with a lot of spare time on its hands as it waits for the CPU to send new instructions.

firestar12 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2009, 19:40:18 »

Ok! I will spend my money on other things then. Thanks guys! I got lots of good info! How much would a new processor cost?

TJK · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2009, 19:47:30 »

Quote from: Firestar on April 21, 2009, 19:40:18

Ok! I will spend my money on other things then. Thanks guys! I got lots of good info! How much would a new processor cost?

you have the intel socet 775 so here you have a good cpu 199 USD
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Intel-Core-2-Quad-C2Q-Q6700-CPU-2-66-GHz-1066-MHz-OEM_W0QQitemZ280335215729QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item280335215729&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1215%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1309

saltydog · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2009, 19:53:43 »

If you need a new processor and a new graphics card,(you will then probably need a new power-supply), it may be worth considering saving up for a new pc..

firestar12 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2009, 20:12:22 »

Ok. I will. Thanks everyone! I might consider seeing if I can find a good laptop on craigslist.

TerryRussell · « **Reply #23 on:** April 21, 2009, 20:21:46 »

Quote from: saltydog on April 21, 2009, 19:53:43

If you need a new processor and a new graphics card,(you will then probably need a new power-supply), it may be worth considering saving up for a new pc..

I'd go with that! Experience shows that quite often it isn't worth the hassle and risk of trying to upgrade a PC. New ones are generally about the same price as all the bots needed for the upgrade.

Even a simple thing like upgrading the video card may require a new power supply. The risk is that neither will then fit in the case.

Author Topic: Integrated graphics card? (Read 1881 times)

firestar12

firestar12

mvsmith

firestar12

firestar12

firestar12

TJK

mvsmith

firestar12

TerryRussell

firestar12

TJK

firestar12

TerryRussell